The Bua Zaakpon Community in Babbe District, Khana LGA, Ogoniland, Rivers State has issued an ultimatum to cultists to vacate the community or have their families expelled.
The community which is an epicentre of cult clashes, killings and beheading also urged former Niger Delta agitators to hand over troublesome sons of the community under their shelter to the police.
The community rising from a crucial Town Hall Meeting which was held on Saturday 27th April, 2019,
at Zaakpon Town Square, to seek ways to restore peace and prosperity to Zaakpon after series of violent cult clashes that bedevilled the community after the 2019 General Elections, resolved as follows:
1. That all warring youths, cultists, gang members and their leaders in Bua Zaakpon should stop all their criminal activities forthwith and surrender their weapons, arms and ammunition to security agencies on or before Saturday 4th May, 2019 at Zaakpon Town Hall, or risk their families being expelled from the community.
2. That all factional Chiefs, Village heads and leaders of youth groups in Zaakpon should step aside temporarily, as a Zaakpon Governing Council that shall comprise of men and women of impeccable character with moral authority shall be setup to manage the affairs of the community and return her to the part of peace and prosperity.
3. That all property developers, landlords and tenants in the Zaakpon axis of Bori should report any case of extortion by these youths in the guise of “Marching Ground” or any other form of royalties, to security agencies, as those found to be patronising them shall be prosecuted for aiding criminal activities.
4. That the Zaakpon community notes the commitment of HRH Chief Ateke Tom (the King of Okochiri) and Chief Solomon Ndigbara(Niger Delta Ex-agitator) to the promotion of peace in the Niger Delta region and therefore call on them to handover any dissident Zaakpon son who run to their respective domains for refuge after fomenting trouble in the community, to security agencies.
5. That all those who fled the community as a result of this conflict should return home as we have secured the commitment of Government and Security agencies for the safety of lives and property of Zaakpon people.
We thank all security chiefs in Rivers State, especially the Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Belel and Ogoni leaders for their commitment to the return of peace and prosperity to Bua Zaakpon and Ogoniland.
